Parish Episcopal to Open New Multipurpose Activity Center

For the first time in 12 years, Parish Episcopal School is building. Construction on a new multipurpose activity center began in September on Parish’s Midway campus, and is expected to be completed in time for the 2017 school year.

The 24,000-square-foot building will have a main space for performances and competitions, as well as a smaller practice room. The floor, seating, lighting, and acoustics were designed to accommodate a wide range of school needs.

The extra square footage provided by the new building will help alleviate space constraints in the school’s academic buildings. Head of school Dave Monaco said the center will also provide much-needed space for Parish’s athletics and arts programs.

With the larger building, Parish will be able to host more of its own events on campus. The school will also be able to share its facilities with the community without interfering with school functions.

“It helps not just our own community but it will meet our desire to be connected to the community here in the metroplex,” Monaco said.

The Gene E. Phillips Activity Center is named in honor of a Dallas businessman who has been a longtime school supporter and whose children and grandchildren attended Parish. Gene Phillips, along with his wife Roxanne, his son Brad, and his daughter-in-law Terri, donated $1 million to support the school and the new activity center.

“Parish Episcopal means a lot to our family, and we wanted to contribute to the future of the school in a meaningful way,” Gene said.

Monaco said the Phillips family members have been generous stewards of Parish for almost a quarter-century.

The $5.3 million activity center is the first phase of a campaign to enhance the Midway campus by providing more meeting spaces and updated facilities. Future plans include a 30,000-square-foot performance and community center that will contain even more practice rooms for students.